Lets spend 2014 together!

Fancy Tiger Crafts is sending you hugs and many thanks. We have been crafting together for going on 8 years! Our customers and our shared passion for all things hand made are the reasons for this. This year has been beyond amazing.

2013 has seen the development of our own line of yarn, Heirloom, produced for us by Jeane Decoster of Elemental Affects. This was received so well that it is now sold in stores nationally and have even hit a few stores internationally! 

The folks here at Fancy Tiger have developed twelve beautiful patterns for Heirloom, and we couldn't be prouder of the things we have created together over the last twelve months.

Our patterns for Heirloom have been pushing us to create even more. Big things are coming in 2014... We can't wait to share them with you! Here is a sneak peek of two new patterns coming soon for Heirloom!!

Here is to an abundant and beautiful 2014!

Come One, Come All, Check Out Our Aranami-Along!

We are all snuggled up over here at Fancy Tiger Crafts with our new Aranami shawls! Thanks to our amazing customers who picked this pattern for our most recent KAL. Bonus: we finished just in the nick of time for snowy Denver city! 

The Aranami Shawl pattern by Olgajazzy calls for 5 colors which aid to the beautiful ombré effect many of these shawls have. We couldn't wait to get our hands on some Brooklyn Tweed Loft for this project. Some of the ladies opted to use a variety of different yarns, just look at those colors!  It is such a perfect pattern for a project on the go and for using up small amounts of fingering weight yarn. Each motif is worked one at a time and is quite easy to remember.

Here are the folks who made this KAL such a success! 

Alsn

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: I liked how easy it was to memorize the pattern so I could knit with friends and have complex & deep conversations. 

Yarn: Elemental Affects Shetland Fingering

Colors: Mediterranean Night, Ciel, Light Denim, Mioget + White

Amber

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: I loved the spectrum of colors that everyone chose for their shawls & I liked the addicting motif knitting.
Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Loft

Colors: Wool Socks, Homemade Jam, Thistle, Plume, Pumpernickel

Betsy

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: I really enjoyed the construction of this shawl; it was like watching a puzzle take shape. When I realized the Cinnamon didn't marry well with the other colors I decided to bracket it with fawn. I absolutely love the final product!
Yarn: Elemental Affects Shetland Fingering

Colors: Cinnamon, Forest Moss, Fawn, Lichen, Ochre

Caitlin

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: I enjoyed the repetition & therapeutic nature of the pattern. "Just one more repeat!"
Yarn: Elemental Affects Shetland Fingering

Colors: Pumpkin Spice, Red Bark, Deep Garnet, Old Gold, Burnt Cinnamon

Emily

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: The camaraderie of working on the project together really inspired me to knit fast and steady.
Yarn: All my own hand spun from Spinzilla 

Colors: Dire Wolf, Earth Wolf, Grey Wolf, Rabbit Wolf, Sun Wolf

Jaime

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: I loved knitting this! It was so addicting and I love everyone's color combos... #neutralsforever
Yarn: Brooklyn Tweed Loft

Colors: Pumpernickel, Truffle Hunt, Storm Cloud, Wood Smoke, Fossil

Katy

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: How quick it was + MODULARNESS. Also my matching project bag!
Yarn: Cascade Sport 

Colors: Shrimp, Anis, Blue Hawaii, Como Blue, White

Kiyomi

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: It was so easy to knit & I finished it!! =)

Yarn: Cascade Sport 

Colors: Charcoal Grey, Ginseng, Sage, Light Grey, White

Pink

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: This shawl made the Zauberball color changes look awesome!
Yarn: Lace Zauberball

Colors: 1874 Rusty

Rachel

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: I liked making the individual waves because it made me seem like a faster knitter than I actually am.
Yarn: Jamieson & Smith Shetland Jumper Weight

Colors: Fuschia, Berry Heather, Raspberry, Lavender Heather, Rose Heather

Sara

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL: Knitting this was addictive and satisfying. The finished project is so soft!
Yarns: Lotus Mimi & Jade Sapphire

Colors: (Lotus) Purple, Light Grey, Beige (Jade Sapphire) Cream & Dark Gray 

Sophia

Favorite thing about the Aranami KAL:  Hooray! Perfect for stash busting!

Yarn: Cascade Baby Alpaca Lace

Colors: Mocha, Turtle, Ecru, Indigo, Chianti Heather

So much happy fun time! Knit-a-longs are the best! 

Thanks to all of you, we have another successful Knit-a-long completed!

If you missed this one don't fret--check back on Monday for the reveal of our Second Annual Sweater KAL, starting in January!

2013 Holiday Gift Picks: Fancy Staff Picks (Part 2)

Welcome to part two of our Staff Picks Holiday Gift Guide! Today we have the best curated selection of craft supplies for the handspinners, knitters and seamsters in your life!

It's Miranda here! After spinning hundreds and hundreds of yards of yarn for Spinzilla, I'm finally ready to look at fiber to replenish my stash. There's no dreamier fiber than Sleep Season Goods roving! Meg's fiber inspires me to try new spinning techniques to let the colors really shine. She dyes the most beautiful colors onto several sheep varieties like Falkland and Wensleydale, and I can't wait to try them all. Happy stitching!

Hey guys, it's me Tina! I was just thinking that I would really love to make an apron for cooking epic feasts. I really love the design of the Emmeline Apron, and the best part is that it's reversible. I would love to make my apron out of this new Super Lucha Libre by Alexander Henry. The flip side will be made of Dollar Signs from the Amy Sedaris Collection because cooking for friends and family is totally money! Not only is this combo AWESOME, it also matches my battle babes oven mitt Miranda made me this summer. So, if anyone would like to just make me my dream apron the Emmeline Apron, it's taught as a class right here at FTC! Happy Holidays, friends.

Hi, it's Nathalie! When winter weather hits, all I want to do is knit sweaters. I've been eyeing the Reine Cardigan from Brooklyn Tweed for months - I love the simple but elegant construction and the pocket detail. I'd pair it with Loft yarn in the color Plume, also from Brooklyn Tweed, for a lovely project kit. This is a gift that would keep me busy knitting and would result in a cardi I'd cherish for years!

Hi, it's Amber here! I am really excited about the new line of Walden patterns from Colette. These unisex patterns are classic and utilitarian, and might ask that you get out your mallet and awl. Hott! I'd pair this Portland-made sewing pattern for the Cooper Bag with some graphic screenprinted heavy cotton fabric from Premier Prints out of Mississippi. Throw in some Heavy Duty Fabric Wax by Portland's own Otter Wax and you have the makings of an awesome all-weather bag. Even better, all these amazing craft  supplies are made in the USA!

Hey y'all! This is Sara. My holiday pick would absolutely be the fabulous Knit Collage yarn. Since our last shipment arrived, I have been dreaming up a beautiful, lush cowl of this unique and sparkly yarn. As an added bonus, it's so fun and full of treasures, it will knit quickly and not add to my never-ending list of crafty to-do's. I could make a new cowl for New Year's!

As you can probably guess, we pretty much dream about amazing craft projects and supplies each and every day, so if you need more ideas for the perfect gift, swing by the shop and give us a chat!

xoxo,
the Fancy Tigers

2013 Holiday Gift Guide: Fancy Staff Picks (Part 1)

Welcome to part one of our Fancy Staff Picks Gift Guide--where the crafty folks of Fancy Tiger share some their favorite gift ideas for holiday giving. If you are looking to find the perfect thing for the crocheter, sewist or knitter on your list, there is sure to be a great idea here!

Hi there! It's Caitlin, and at the top of my holiday wish list is Marion Madel's book The New Crochet. This book is beautifully photographed and is designed as a beginner's guide to learning crochet. It is jam-packed with modern designs so even a not-so-beginner will be excited by this gem! I'd love to stitch up the Hazelnut Scarf from Lesson 17, so some Chickadee yarn in Kittywake would be a great addition to the book.

Hello everyone! It's Erikia. One of my favorite things at the store right now is the book Clothing for Everyday Wear: Stylish Dress Book by Yoshiko Tsukiori. The book is full of simple and beautiful dress patterns. It' also includes a full set of patterns and instructions in English so it's super easy. To go along with this, I'd pair some Japanese fabrics from Nani Iro or Kokka. I feel like I could makeover my entire wardrobe armed with these two things!

Jaime here: I love the new Rhinebeck Sweater book from Ysolda Teague! The book contains 12 beautiful sweater patterns that feature many of the "farmy" yarns that we here at Fancy Tiger Crafts love so much. My ideal gift would be the book plus the yarn for one of the sweaters: Aunt Fred in Jill Draper's Mohonk yarn in the colors Greige and Terracotta

Kiyomi here--I'm super obsessed with all the amazing knit fabrics that are in the store. Not only do we have a range of designs and colors, but they're great for making something I call "The 30 Second Scarf" which are perfect for those last minute gifts. I would love this lush gray geo sweatshirt fleece to sewn up into Colette's new pattern, Walden. Natural antler toggle buttons would add a great detail to this coat. And, while I'm not a huge fan of the winter weather, this unisex coat will be perfect to snuggle into while waiting for the bus.

Hello! Fancy Katy here! I've been in love with Jane Richmond's Island collection since it first came out last year. The patterns are simple, yet refined, and work great for both solid and variegated yarns. I find the Renfrew Hat and Arbutus Cowl make awesome quick gifts! I have spent this year knitting several things out of the book, but I have yet to make Grace, the very lovely cardigan. One of my favorite yarns in the world is Madelinetosh Tosh Sock, and they just came out with a beautiful mint green colorway called Courbet's Green, so my perfect holiday gift this year would be enough skeins of that to make the cardigan!

Check back tomorrow for five more great gift ideas from the Fancy Tiger staff!

Me Made May 2013: Week 2

Week two of Me Made May is going strong with forty-three handi-crafty-tastic outfits! Yes! That's 82 handmade looks for May and counting...

Last week the people of the interwebs demanded bigger photos of us in our duds, and we heard you loud and clear. Visit Fancy Tiger's flickr to see individual photos of all our crafty peeps from this week. I'll add last weeks there, too by the end of the month, I promise.

Row 1:  Jaime-Aline Skirt  |  Amber-Colette Jasmine Blouse  |  Caitlin-Melody Miller Bee Skirt |  Erikia-Jersey shirt of her own design  |  Allison-Aline skirt  |  Miranda-Dirndl Dress  |  Tina-Jersey Shirt of her own design with peter pan collar applique and lace embellished shorts

Row 2: Caitlin-Tank drafted from a favorite shirt  |  Amber-Wiksten Tank and Aidez Cardigan  |  Emily-Colette Jasmine Tank, Cal Patch leggings, Aestlight Shawl in handspun Angora from Victoria (her bunny) + leather bracelet and belt of her own design  |  Jaime-Colette Violet in Liberty  |  Miranda-Colette Sencha Blouse + Stephen West Blue Whale Shawl  |  Katy-Felted Wool Necklace  |  Tina-Skirt + Top of her own design

Row 3: Erikia-Wool felt flower headband  |  Allison-Colette Macaron  |  Caitlin-Grainline Studio Tiny Pocket Tank  |  Amber-Ysolda Peardrop Shawl and Anna Maria Horner Flirting the Issue Skirt  |  Katy-Necklace of her own design  |  Jaime-Colette Laurel and hand-smocked necklace  |  Miranda-Dirndl Dress

Row 4: Allison-Sarah's cowl sweatshirt  |  Jaime-Colette Beignet Skirt  |  Tina-Dress of her own design  |  Katy-Stripe Study Shawl in Tosh Sock  |  Allison-Colette Sorbetto  |  Melissa-Jamie Christina Sunny Day Dress  |  Miranda-Peony Dress in Lizzy House Constellations  |  

Row 5: Katy-Block Printed Tee  |  Amber-Colette Violet  |  Melissa-Colette Sorbetto  |  Emily-Shirt of her own design + Cal Patch Leggings  |  Katy-Pinkerton Shawl in Malabrigo Sock  |  Amber-Deer + Doe Robe Belladone dress in Malka Dubrawski fabric  |  Caitlin-Built By Wendy Raglan Tee

Row 6: Erikia-Wiksten Tank  |  Jaime-Colette Sorbetto  |  Tina-Dress of her own design  |  Miranda-Macalls pattern in Jay McCarroll fabric  |  Erikia-Soldered crystal pendent  |  Amber-Wiksten Tank with added sleeves  |  Caitlin-Built by Wendy 3964 in Yuwa fabric  |  Melissa-Amber's Sailor Top

Hooray for handmade!

Six is Swell!

Fancy Tiger is Six!

We had a blast on Saturday at our 6 year anniversary party. Thanks to everyone who came out it was our busiest day in the history of Fancy Tiger! When we arrived at the store there were already some fancy fans lined up to be the first to celebrate.

We had a special gift for the first 150 people, thanks to our fantastic vendors who donated tons of prizes!

There were new bumper stickers and temporary tattoos for all, and the tats were a total hit! Everyone was looking pretty tough.

Also...new Fancy Tiger Crafts tees were printed! There are still some of these available if you were unable to attend this Saturday.

We were delighted when our friend Nohl stopped by to show off his fancy tiger face paint!

We had, as usual, some tiny, adorable customers showing their Fancy Tiger pride. You can tell these crafty girls have good taste--one is already a Liberty of London fan!

Sweet Action Ice Cream gave us a fantastic birthday present--our very own ice cream flavor! Fancy Peanut Butter has chocolate covered pretzels in it. Yum!

Thanks, everyone who came out to celebrate with us! And thanks, Denver, for 6 fantastic years of craftiness.